Going Native

Some green-thumbed students and faculty are restoring native plants to the Fairfax Campus— and yes, they’re diggin’ their work

By Dave Andrews

On a chilly November morning, students and faculty gathered at the corner of Patriot Circle and Rivanna River Lane to create a garden of shrubs and woody plants such as dogwood, elderberry, paw-paw, and winterberry, all native to the region.

“When the campus was originally developed, many of the native plants were taken away,” says Andrew Wingfield, MFA Creative Writing ’99, assistant professor at New Century College, and one of the project coordinators.

Wingfield’s Introduction to Conservation Studies course requires students to earn experiential learning credit. By getting involved in campus greening efforts, the students and faculty were given the opportunity to put back what was lost.

“Our initiatives are really gaining some momentum,” says Wingfield. “This is just one of many various campus greening initiatives to get under way. It’s great to have something tangible in the ground that represents the development and progress of the campus.”

Project organizers had met with Mason facility managers during the summer to find a suitable location on campus in need of “greening.” The particular area was chosen because it had become trampled by pedestrians.

Twelve different plants were planted along a new mulch pathway for pedestrians; plaques will soon be in place to identify each plant. The plants were donated by Earth Sangha, a Buddhist environmental nonprofit organization. Earth Sangha codirector Chris Bright was on hand to supervise.

Kristen Culp, a junior majoring in integrative studies, said the greening was a great start to improving the look of the campus. “I was surprised with how many people showed up to help.”

During Earth Day celebrations this past spring, Heather Hare, associate director of Mason’s Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, and students in New Century College participated in a native plants garden project at the same location. Among the plants donated by Earth Sangha were dogwood, elderberry, paw-paw, and winterberry.

“Heather Hare and Michael Galvin of Dining Services have been watering and mowing the area all summer,” says Wingfield. “They deserve a lot of credit.” Another planting is planned this fall.